Combination hypodermic syringe and mixing container



June 27, QS? E. A, FREEBERG ET AL gfl@ COMBINATION HYPODERMC SYRINGE ANDMIXING CONTAINER Filed Nov. l5, 1965 Z5 25 @7919., @@eijgg.

BY Uzie a j'sj/a MASON, KOLEMMMNE NQm-H BURN #Wyss AT1-YS United StatesPatent O 3,327,710 COMBINATION HYPUDERMIC SYRINGE AND MG CONTAINER JohnDe Santo and Edgar A. Freeberg, both of 1151 N.

State St., Chicago, Ill. 60610, and Titus Haifa, 864

W. North Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60622 Filed Nov. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 324,0471 Claim. (Cl. 12S-218) The present invention relates generally to acontainer, and more specifically to a combination hypodermic syringe andmulti-compartmented container. The new and improved material containeris adapted -to contain different types of material in separatecompartments within the container with means whereby the materials maybe intermixed together prior to use.

One typical use of the container according to the present inventionwould be in the pharmaceutical industry wherein it is necessary tomaintain certain materials or drugs separate until such time as it isdesired to use them. One such drug involves an aqueous solution ofpenicillin wherein the dry crystalline powder is maintained separatefrom the water until use. Prior to using the penicillin, it is necessaryto intermix the crystalline penicillin powder and the yaqueous solution.Of course, it will be appreciated that such mixing must be done in asterile manner and that any spillage of the material is undesirable.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention tc provide a newand improved container for containing two different materials in twoseparate compartments therein so that there is no mixing together of theiluids until the desired time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved combination hypodermic syringe and multi-compartmentedcontainer of the type described wherein the separate materials may berapidly and thoroughly mixed together at the desired time withoutopening the container extern-ally, thus eliminating the possibility ofspillage or contamination of the materials within the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedcombination hypodermic syringe and multi-compartmented container of thetype described which can be more economically produced in largequantities than those heretofore known, and which can readily and easilybe filled with the desired materials so that the hypodermic syringe andcontainer is expendible and may be discarded after use.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved combination hypodermic syringe and multi-compartmentedcontainer wherein the unit is self-contained and the drugs for injectionby the hypodermic syringe are contained within the compartments of thesyringe and container.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved combination hypodermic syringe and multi-compartmentedcontainer of the type described wherein the materials in the separatecompartments are held isolated from each other without danger of leakageor contamination between the compartments until such time as it isdesired to use the contents of the container.

These and other objects `and advantages of the present invention areaccomplished by the provision of a new and improved combinationhypodermic syringe and multicompartmented container of the type whereina hypodermic syringe of the type including a cylinder provided with aplunger and a needle is joined to a readily detachable vessel such thatthe needle communicates between the cylinder and the vessel. With theplunger partly withdrawn from the cylinder, there is provided a irstcon- 3,3Z7,'Zl Patented June 27, 1967 tainer in the cylinder. Thereadily detachable vessel forms a second container. When it is desiredto use the materials, the plunger of the hypodermic syringe can bedepressed and withdrawn in order to intermix the materials in thecylinder -an-d vessel.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hypodermic needleextends through a lower closed end of the cylinder and has a sharpprojection extending inwardly of the Closed end. Moreover, in order toinsure isolation of the materials within the container until such timeas the contents are to be used in the preferred embodiment there isprovided a rupturable diaphragm extending across the lower end of thecylinder, slightly `above the point of projection of the needle, toseparate the cylinder from the vessel. Depression of the plunger will beeffective to push the diaphragm against the pointed portion of theneedle and rupture the diaphragm to permit intermixing of the materials.It will be understood that the readily removable vessel may consist of afrangible vessel of glass or simil-ar material which may be fractured inorder to provide for usage of the hypodermic needle, or, in thealternative, the readily removable vessel may comprise a Vesseldetachably secured to the hypodermic cylinder. Moreover, if desired,means may be provided for restraining or locking the plunger againstaccidental displacement and consequent premature mixing of thematerials.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference should behad to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunctionwith the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the combination hypodermic needleand multi-compartmented container in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the combination hypodermic syringeand multi-compartmented container similar to that illustrated in FIG. l,but illustrating the diaphragm ruptured;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary isometric view illustrating a detail of thecylinder of the hypodermic syringe;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary isometric view of the sharp end projection ofthe hypodermic needle according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating oneposition of the hypodermic syringe with the rupturable diaphragm intact;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged View of the hypodermic syringeillustrating the rupturable diaphragm after it has been ruptured by thesharp end projection of the hypodermic needle;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the hypodermicsyringe illustrated with the plunger in a fully depressed position; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the hypodermic syringe taken alonglines 8-8 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, thereis illustrated a container 10 forming a combined hypodermic syringe andmulti-compartmented container according to the present invention, andincluding a modified hypodermic syringe11 and an additional vessel 12.As is well known in the medical and veternarian arts, the syringe 11 isformed of an elongated cylinder 13 closed at one end by a suitable plug14. The other end of the cylinder 13 is open and may be formed with anexternal bead 15 to facilitate gripping of the syringe.

Additionally, the syringe 11 is provided with a plunger 18 slidablyreceived through the open end of cylinder 13. The syringe 11 contains ahypodermic needle 19 extending through the plug 14 and terminatingwithin the cylinder 13. The hypodermic needle 19 is of the type used forintramuscular or intravenous injection of medications. The cylinder 13,plunger 18, and needle 19 may be formed of any suitable material.Preferably, the syringe is of low cost construction and suitable fordiscarding after a single use. Typically, the cylinder 13 and plunger 18are formed of glass or other ceramic material, and the needle 19 isformed of metal such as stainless steel. However, in order to reduce thecost of the syringe, other materials of lower cost may be used, forexample, the cylinder 13 and plunger 18 may suitably be formed of asuitable plastic material. It will be appreciated that when the plunger18 is partially withdrawn from the cylinder 13, a first compartment 21will be formed within the cylinder 13 for receiving any suitable medicalpreparation such as crystalline pencillin powder 22.

In order to form a second compartment for containing other material ormedical preparation, there is provided the vessel 12, here shown in thegeneral form of an elongated tube having cylindrical side walls 24 andclosed at one end by an end wall 25. The other end of the vessel 12 isclosed by a plug 26. The needle 19 extends through the plug andcommunicates to the interior of the vessel 12. In this manner the vessel12 forms a second compartment 28 for containing any suitable materialsuch as medical preparations, here indicated as an aqueous solution 29.The vessel 12 including the plug 26 may be formed of any suitablematerial, and, specifically, the vessel 12 may be formed of glass,plastic, or other suitable materials, while the plug 26 may be formed ofrubber, plastic, or other material sufficiently resilient to permitsealing between the side walls 24 of the vessel 12 and the plug 26, andadditionally provide sealing between the needle 19 with the plug 26.

If desired, a gasket 27 may be provided between the lower end or plug 14of the cylinder 13 and the inner surface of the plug 26 to moreeffectively provide a seal for the lower vessel 12 with the cylinder 13.

In order to connect the vessel 12 with the syringe 11, the plug 26 ofthe vessel 12 may be provided with an upwardly extending -cup-shapedportion 30, and the lower end of the cylinder 13 is provided with anexternal bead 31 so that the cup-shaped portion 30 will resiliently snapover the bead 31 thereby securely joining the vessel 12 to the syringe11.'It will be appreciatedthat the vessel 12 may readily be removed fromthe syringe 11 by detaching the plug 26 from the cylinder 13. Ifdesired,

however, other means of separating the vessel 12 may Y be provided, forexample, the vessel 12 may be of frangible material such as glass, andmay readily be removed from the syringe by shattering the glass vessel.

For positively maintaining the materials 22 and 29 in the respectivecompartment isolated from each other Without danger of breakage orcontamination between the compartments until such time as it is desiredto use the contents of the container, the lower end of the cylinder 13may be hermetically closed by a rupturable diaphragm 36, the peripheryof which may be secured to the inner wall of the cylinder 13. Asillustrated, the periphery of the diaphragm 36 is secured by suitablecement 37 to a shoulder 38 in the cylinder 13. Depression or withdrawalof the plunger 18 in the cylinder 13 in this manner will -be eftectiveto rupture the diaphragm 36 and permit intermixing of the materials inthe container.

To facilitate the rupture of the diaphragm 36, means may be provided topierce the diaphragm upon depression or withdrawal of the plunger 18. Asillustrated, the needle 19 is provided with a sharp end projection 40,as best illustrated in FIG. 4, formed of an enlarged conically shapedpoint 41 and having wedge-shaped inclined surfaces 42 providing a pairof sharp pointsV 43 on the projection. The projection extends into thecylinder 13 into a depression 45, FIG. 3, of inverted frusto-conicalshape extending below the shoulder 38. In this manner the points 43 ofthe projection 40` are closely spaced from the rupturable diaphragm.Depression of the plunger 18 within the cylinder 13 is effective tobring the diaphragm 36 into contact with the projection 48 of the needleand thereby assist in rupturing the diaphragm as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The enlarged conical point 41 forms a lower surface 46 of larger crosssection than the external diameter of the needle 19 and is therebyeffective to hold the ruptured diaphragm 3d out 0f the way of thematerials in the cylinder, as best illustrated in FIG. 6.

In order to permit discharge of all of the contents of the syringe 11,the lower end of the plunger 18 is provided With a depression 49, bestillustrated in FIG. f7, complementary to the projection 40, so that upondepression of the plunger 18 fully into the cylinder 13, the plungerwill conform to the shape of the conical depression 45 in the end wallor plug 14 of the cylinder 13, and the depression 49 in the end of theplunger 18 will permit the projection 40 to be received therein, therebyproviding for utilizing of the maximum amount of medication from thesyringe 11, as best illustrated in FIG. 7.

To prevent accidental depression of the plunger 18, and to seal thecompartment 21 between the cylinder 13 and the plunger 18, there may beprovided a suitable seal or plug 50, FIG. l. The plug 50 may be snappedover the bead 15 and may tightly engage the plunger 13 to restrain theplunger 18 against accidental displacement and to seal the compartment21. The plug 5t) -may be of suitable material which would permit itsremoval from the -bead 15 prior to use of the syringe; or it maysuitably resiliently engage the plunger 18 so that the plunger 18 may beforced against the restraining effect of the plug 50.

From the above description, the operation of the cornbined hypodermicsyringe and multi-compartment con- .tainer is believed clear. However,briefly, it will be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiment,there is provided a first compartment 21 formed within the cylinder 13of the hypodermic syringe, and a second compartment 28 is formed by avessel 12 joined to the lower end of the cylinder 13. The needle 19communicates between the compartments. A rupturable diaphragm 36 isprovided to insure against contamination of the materials Within thecompartments until such time as it is desired to use the materials. Whenit is desired to use the materials, the plunger 18 is depressedslightly, bringing the diaphragm 36 into contact with the sharp endprojection 40 of the needle 19, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, andthereby rupturing the diaphragm. The diaphragm will be held in thedisplaced position by the lower surface 46 of the projection 40 asillustrated in FIG. 6. The material 29 in the vessel 12 can now bewithdrawn from the vessel 12 into the cylinder 21 by withdrawing theplunger 18 from the cylinder 13. Once the material 29 has beentransferred to the cylinder 13, the materials 29 and 22 will intermix toprovide the desired medical substance. T he vessel 12 may be removedfrom the hypodermic syringe 11, for example by breaking the vessel 12 orby unsnapping the plug 26 from the cylinder 13. The hypodermic syringeis now charged with the desired medication, and is sterile 4and readyfor use for injection.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described, it will be understood that many changes and modificationsmay be made, and it is, therefore, intended by the appended claim tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

A combination hypodermic syringe and multi-compartmente-d containercomprising a hypodermic syringe including a cylinder closed at one endforming a first. compartment provided with an inverted frusto-conicaldepression in said end, a plunger slidably received within said cylinderextending through the other end thereof having a frusto-conicalprojection receivable in said depression, said projection having arecess in its end surface, and a hypodermic needle extending throughsaid closed end having a sharp end portion dened by an enlargedWedgeshaped point extending into said compartment, said recess providingclearance for said portion; a vessel removably attached to said closedend of said cylinder to form a second compartment, the other end of saidneedle extending into said vessel; and a rupturable diaphragm Withinsaid cylinder closely spaced above said sharp end portion of saidneedle, the depression of said plunger within said cylinder beingelective to bring said diaphragm into contact with said sharp endportion and to rupture said diaphragm, said wedge-shaped point having abase of larger diameter than the remainder of said needle forming asurface effective to retain a ruptured diaphragm in displaced position,said cylinder including bead means adjacent said other end thereof, anda plug locked over said bead and tightly engaging said plungerrestraining said plunger against accidental displacement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1916 Reed 128-218 10/ 1927Patten 12S-218 l/1949 Scherer et al. 128-218 11/1952 Van Horn et al.12S-215 11/1955 Lockhart 12S-218 11/1956 Gotthart 12S-218 12/1956 Ulertet al. 12S-215 8/1958 Cohen et al. l28-2l8 FOREIGN PATENTS 7/1912France. 9/1902 Germany. 3/1934 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. D. L. TRULUCK, Examiner.

